Author Topic: SPRING SEASON 2018 (Read 7578 times)

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #20 on:** March 26, 2018, 02:32:31 pm »

it is still too early to tell. We had a few 50 and 60 degree days, and then yesterday we had three inches of snow and it is near freezing again...

Warm stretches, that drop back to freezing, then another warm stretch, that drops back to freezing, over and over, is VERY HARD on the bees. I am finding dead hives with two and three small clusters.. had they managed to get clustered in ONE cluster, they would have done fine, they had plenty of reserves, but they didn't get together, so they died...
I had bees swarming the maple buds like mad. They were bringing in the nectar/pollen from those buds... now those buds are dead and falling off the trees. I have hives that have eggs, and no way to feed those eggs through until new buds emerge...
Looks like emergency measures are necessary...

Seriously getting tired of keeping bees here in Iowa with temps that do this... My bees would ALL be better off in Texas, or in Maine. This stupid weather is killing them relentlessly... 11 of 32 hives left at this point.

I am going to build three bee sheds this summer and put all my bees inside. I am hoping that inside the shed, the hives will be slower to heat, as well as cool, and the bees will have more time to situate and organize inside a shed where the temps are slower to change...
Scott
Scott

Wandering Man · « **Reply #21 on:** March 26, 2018, 05:30:57 pm »

Quote from: LazyBkpr on March 26, 2018, 02:32:31 pm

Seriously getting tired of keeping bees here in Iowa with temps that do this... My bees would ALL be better off in Texas, or in Maine. This stupid weather is killing them relentlessly... 11 of 32 hives left at this point.

Scott

Come on Down! We still got plenty of space.

Perry · « **Reply #22 on:** March 26, 2018, 05:32:17 pm »

Quote from: LazyBkpr on March 26, 2018, 02:32:31 pm

Seriously getting tired of keeping bees here in Iowa with temps that do this... My bees would ALL be better off in Texas, or in Maine.

or maybe I'll move to Nova Scotia!!

riverbee · « **Reply #23 on:** March 26, 2018, 06:36:14 pm »

scott, thanks for chiming in on the thread.....i had hoped you would!
uh......but you forgot to answer the questions...............

and i hear ya btw, some things get me wound up to make me re-think keeping bees.

so your 'homework assignment' is.............15 questions, errr 14 questions?.......

LOL! i think you already answered question 1?
rum and coke, relax and we look forward to reading a scott animated and educational reply..............

1. what were your winter losses?
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining?
3. do you know why you suffered losses?
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase?
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration?
6. goals: what are your goals this season?
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing?
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why?
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you?
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
12. what did you learn last season?
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills?
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges?

Lastfling · « **Reply #24 on:** March 27, 2018, 12:28:07 pm »

I've pondered this one for a while. LOL. If only the bees were here...

1. what were your winter losses? 0 - none -- I lost them all in late August.
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining? 0 / 0 - we're talking bees and not woodenware - right??
3. do you know why you suffered losses? I suspect a mite load (was in middle of an OAV treatment), but not positive. Robbing also a factor and subsequent SHB takeover.
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase? 2 with (2) 10 frame deeps, (1) medium super, (2) 5 frame nucs, (1) long lang with approx 28 frame capacity.
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration? Maybe the above should have been here.
6. goals: what are your goals this season? Better monitoring of mite loads. To successfully carry over from one year to the next. This will be third attempt.
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing? No - not now.
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at? See (6). Also swarm management.
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why? Previous bees were Italian
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you? OAV and OA dribble. Plan to add MAQS in the mix this year. Part 2 - As no bees currently I guess the correct answer would be nothing yet.
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you? Strong hive, defensible space.
12. what did you learn last season? That I have a lot more to learn.
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills? I joined the local bee club to meet other similar minded folk, and also the state association. I just completed "bee school" put on by the local club, The school was extremely educational and geared towards the local beekeeping environment which answered a lot of questions I had.
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season? More consistent mite monitoring via sugar rolls to determine treatment needs/intervals
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges? I had an uncle who kept bees years ago, and saw a display at the fair that rekindled my interest. I'm stubborn and know that I can do this (so I keep saying). Whats a few stings beside all the rabbit scratches. LOL. Bee toes don't need nail clipping do they?? If so, I may have to reconsider.

riverbee · « **Reply #25 on:** March 27, 2018, 05:23:44 pm »

thank you lastfling, i enjoyed reading your reply.

"we're talking bees and not woodenware - right??"

yes, bees!
i think we all have empty wooden-ware laying around or being stored, i do.

PappyRick · « **Reply #26 on:** March 28, 2018, 04:31:24 pm »

New beek's efforts to answer. This will be my second year for this endeavor, but man I learned a lot last year. Some of which was what not to do. I have 2 nucs on order - should get them in a few weeks and will reload the hives with new bees.

1. what were your winter losses? I'm like Lastfling - lost both hives in the fall
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining? 2 (if you count fall)/ 0 now
3. do you know why you suffered losses? Not sure, but probably mite load
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase? I have enough woodenware for 3 - 2 deep hives, 4 supers, and one nuc box. Will increase someday.
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration? Langstrom - 2 deeps
6. goals: what are your goals this season? Try to get my bees thru next winter
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing? No
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at? Treating for mites. Used ApiGuard last fall, will probably try OV this year
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why? Live bees
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you? Used ApiGuard - need to find a better treatment this year
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you? Swiffer sheets did OK, and beetle traps got a couple of them, but hive tool is most effective for me
12. what did you learn last season? Wow - this will require another post. but in a nutshell - "This is hard"
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills? This forum did a lot. Reading everything I could find helped too.
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season? Not sure yet, but something.
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges? I got involved because it is the right thing to do, I am retired and have plenty of time, and I like a good challenge (and whooo boy!).

PappyRick

tedh · « **Reply #27 on:** March 28, 2018, 05:29:58 pm »

1) lost 3 hives and 1 nuc.
2) 15 hives and 2 nucs going into winter; 12 hives and 1 nuc survived
3) guessing here, 2 hives to mite load, 1 hive nosema ?
4) would like to build up to 20-25 hives eventually
5) langstrom 2 deep 10 framers for hives, deep 5 over 5 nucs
6) increased honey crop and increase hive count
7) no goals for queen rearing at this point

I'd like to get a handle on managing colonies for honey production
9) Italian mutts is my guess
10) OAV spring and fall but would like to mix it up a bit with something different just to play it safe
11) SHB not a big problem here yet
12) larger colonies produce better queens
13) this forum helps a great deal as does hanging out with better beekeepers
14) I'll probably stick to the same basic plan but pay more attention to what the bees try to tell me.
15) it's Josh's fault!!!! We stick to it because we're in too deep to turn back now!

P.S. I don't know how to cut and paste, but it sounds like fun. Ted

Les · « **Reply #28 on:** March 28, 2018, 07:38:27 pm »

Finally a moment to sit and respond......

1. what were your winter losses? None
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining? Two
3. do you know why you suffered losses? N/A
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase? Currently two NUCS. Hoping to split one of the NUCS and also have two NUCS on order for June arrival.
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration? Five frame NUCS, two deeps and will add medium supers once the flow starts.

6. goals: what are your goals this season? Expand my colonies, stay on top of mites and help boost the bees health with supplements.
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing? Hopefully from the split,I can raise a queen.

8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at? I want to become "braver" LOL. Try to work as much as possible without gloves.

9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why? Currently Buckfast but doubt they are pure now. Have no preferences.

10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you? Oxalic Acid and Formic Acid. Would love to buy a vaporizer but too rich for me. Will stick with oxalic acid sublimation and switch off with Apivar near fall.
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you? Not an issue.

12. what did you learn last season? Get the robbing screens on in August. Lost two hives from robbing - feral honeybees?? and yellow jackets. AND KILL ALL YELLOWJACKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills? Time and research, research, research and, of course, my fellow beeks on WWB.
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season? Going to space my hives further apart to try and lessen drone drift to keep the phoretic mites from moving from hive to hive.

15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges? Wanted bees for pollination purposes. I stay with it because it keeps my gray matter from turning to mush trying to figure out the next step and stay ahead. Also enjoy the camaraderie with the my fellow beeks.

riverbee · « **Reply #29 on:** March 28, 2018, 10:16:27 pm »

a good thread, i just had a chance to read through the recent replies. thank you all very much!

when i first started this thread and realized how many questions i had asked, i thought, who is going to want to take the time to answer all these questions? i thought well, give it a whirl, if it floats, it floats, if it doesn't.........maybe i just drive everyone roll eyes crazy and post one question at a time .........

for me, reading each reply is pretty cool. how everyone is keeping bees and doing their best to do so, and learning a little about everyone who has replied.

when this thread winds down, i think i will probably post a 'synopsis' of each individual question and answers to them. perhaps this will help others in some way. we all don't get a chance to say what we are doing with bees. we ask questions, and maybe answer questions, but maybe don't give a 'big picture' of where we are all at in beekeeping.

one topic is very common...........mites is what we all struggle with.
i think my favorite question and answers to is # 15 (how we all got started in keepin bees and keep going)........some great stuff and some funny answers......life is good!

this thread hasn't wound down yet, and i am looking forward to more replies!

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #30 on:** March 29, 2018, 05:19:25 pm »

Actually, I answered the first 3 questions.

4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase?
None at the moment, but I will work at making more, depending on how many bees I have left when I check them this coming month.

5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration?
Langstroth, I try to run all mediums just to make things easier.

6. goals: what are your goals this season?
Rebuild from the losses, and with luck go into winter with six to ten nucs as well.

7. any goals on queens/queen rearing?
Yep, need to raise queens to do splits!

8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
Keeping bees alive!

9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why?
Mutt's It has been my experience that generally mutt's are heartier. I have tried several different (designer) bees without a lot of success. My old tiger striped mutt's tend to survive when none of the others do.

10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you?
Oxalic Acid Vapor exclusively. It works a lot like a homing missile for mites. Lock target, fire, and forget.

11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
JUST getting hive beetles now, so this will be a learning experience.

12. what did you learn last season?
Don't let the wife talk me into running off in July. STAY WITH THE BEES!

13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills?
Reading about how everyone else keeps bees that visits this forum!

14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
Planning to build a couple custom bee sheds, to see if they will keep the temps in the hives a little more consistent, both to keep the bees clustered, and or to allow the bees to RE cluster on those 50 degree days in Late Jan, Early Feb when it suddenly drops back below freezing as the sun goes down.

15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges?
My Grandpa got me a job helping another beekeeper back in 1977.
Why do I stick with it? Apparently, because I am missing a few KEY brain cells?

Scott

riverbee · « **Reply #31 on:** March 29, 2018, 10:41:14 pm »

thanks scott!

les, where were you getting your buckfast's from?

Les · « **Reply #32 on:** March 30, 2018, 02:35:11 am »

I am getting them from a fellow in my beekeeping club. If you want, I can ask him where he got them from
originally.

riverbee · « **Reply #33 on:** March 30, 2018, 11:17:52 am »

thanks les, send me a pm when you find out. i have always wanted to try buckfast's.

riverbee · « **Reply #34 on:** April 01, 2018, 10:09:24 pm »

anyone else that would like to consider contributing to this thread?

we have answers from 12 members, some great stuff!

i want to try and compile answers to each question and post an overall synopsis to each question!

and thanks again to all who contributed!

anyone else?

Kathi · « **Reply #35 on:** April 02, 2018, 08:20:42 am »

1. what are your winter losses?
still waiting on our Nova Scotia weather for a full hive check
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining?
I went into winter with 1 hive and it's still alive. I was happy to see bees out flying on Saturday and bringing home pollen.
3. do you know why you suffered losses?
no loss yet
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase?
One hive now and I've ordered a Nuc to increase to 2 this summer
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration?
Langstroth double deeps
6. goals: what are your goals this season?
increase number of hives, plant some clover and mustard
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing?
I'd like more education on this
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
general beekeeping skills...I'm so new...
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why?
I got my bees from Perry - that's all I know about the genetics
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you?
used MAQS in the Fall
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
n/a
12. what did you learn last season?
watching happy bees is good for the soul, and stings really hurt
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills?
education, practice, patience, experienced beekeepers
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
better mite monitoring
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges?
always wanted to try beekeeping and I try to keep the challenges in perspective

riverbee · « **Reply #36 on:** April 08, 2018, 10:17:51 pm »

13 members have posted answers to this thread, would like to get two more posts to 15......anyone else?

two more!

Wandering Man · « **Reply #37 on:** April 14, 2018, 04:13:13 pm »

Quote from: Wandering Man on March 24, 2018, 12:55:23 am

QUESTIONS ARE:

13. what did you learn last season? That I should have taken Lazy Beekeepers alias from him. I think it might fit me better than him. I realized I'm too lazy to put hive on someone else's property and properly take care of it. Thankfully, I figured this one out before implementing this plan.

I thought I learned not to put a hive on someone else's property because I was too lazy to tend to them properly.

But, it looks like I didn't really learn that lesson, because here I go, putting TWO hives on someone else's property. We'll see if I can overcome my lethargic ways and check on them.

The lessons I have already learned for 2018 are:
1) An out-yard away from civilization is a good thing to have when your bees go aggressive.
2) How to move those bees from the back yard to the out-yard.
3) Your bee suit does a good job of protecting you from an angry swarm of bees.
4) Your bee gloves may not be thick enough to protect you from an angry swarm of bees when the leather is stretched tight over your hand while clutching a frame.
5) Alarm pheromone smells more like Cat Urine than bananas to me, and I feel sorry for anyone who gets the two scents confuses.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #38 on:** April 15, 2018, 09:25:08 am »

LOL WM...
All true! Also? NEVER lay your hive tool down. ALWAYS put it in your back pocket, EVEN when it is sticky. Bees can coordinate well enough so that they can make your hive tool VANISH. I swear that they all get together and fly away with it when your not looking!

Wandering Man · « **Reply #39 on:** April 15, 2018, 09:29:29 am »

Quote from: LazyBkpr on April 15, 2018, 09:25:08 am

LOL WM...
All true! Also? NEVER lay your hive tool down. ALWAYS put it in your back pocket, EVEN when it is sticky. Bees can coordinate well enough so that they can make your hive tool VANISH. I swear that they all get together and fly away with it when your not looking!

I forgot about that one.

Fortunately, I have 3Reds to catch the thing before the bees steal it. I don’t know how many times I’d looked for my hive tool, only to have 3Reds hand it too me, telling me to use my pocket!